Current issue:
The Pontifical Academy of Theology
When Pope John Paul II transformed the Faculty of Theology in Cracow into a three-faculty academy in 1981, the events in the Gdańsk Shipyards of August 1980 and the emergence of the Solidarity movement had already been part of history. Despite this, the Communist regime tried hard to destroy our academic circles. This is well exemplified by the fact that even the very name of the Academy Pontifical Academy of Theology was censored by the Polish mass media at that time. The decision to establish the Academy was taken by the Polish Pope as it were in defiance of the contrary trends of history. In the course of time, it turned out to be a prophetic decision; it became an inherent element of our vision of free Poland and new Europe.
Our beginnings in 1981 were rather small we started with 40 lecturers and over 350 students. At present, we have over four times as many academics (including 70 associate and full professors), whereas the number of students reaches 3000. The Faculties: of Theology, of Philosophy and of Church History grew stronger. After a couple of years they were joined by the Faculty of Theology in Tarnów. The Academy started with providing three fields of studies; now they are seven. This educational offer is complemented by various post-Master's programmes.
The development of our Academy fills us with joy. It also makes the plan of transforming the Academy into a Pontifical University more and more feasible. I hope that in the future we shall be able to contribute into the preservation of Europe's identity by strengthening the relations between scholarship and Christianity. I am convinced that Christianity is a natural foundation of European culture.
History of the Academy in Brief
The Pontifical Academy of Theology derives from the eldest Polish university the Jagiellonian University, which has been associated with the history of our city and our country for more than six hundred years. On May 12th, 1364, King Casimir the Great issued a Foundation Act initiating a university, which had been approved by Pope Urban V beforehand. At that time, the school was called Studium Generale, and it did not include a theology faculty. It was only at the request of St Queen Jadwiga and her husband Wladyslaw Jagiello that Pope Boniface IX issued the Bull, Eximiae devotionis affectus, dated 11th of January, instituting the Faculty of Theology in Cracow. This day initiates a more than six hundred years' activity of the Faculty.
In the Foundation Act of July 26th, 1400, the Faculty of Theology was mentioned in the first place, and since then it was of primary importance at the Cracow University for many centuries. In accordance with the idea of St Queen Jadwiga, the professors of the Faculty got involved in Christianization of Lithuania. Owing to their speeches at the Councils of Constance and Basle, the Faculty became famous not only in Poland, but also beyond.
At the times of the First Polish Republic, the rectors of the Cracow University were mostly elected from among its theologians. After Poland survived the partition period and regained independence in 1918, the Cracow Faculty of Theology which boasted outstanding professors and the biggest number of students in Poland was one of the main centres of Polish theological thought. Its graduates were among academic staff of almost all Polish theology faculties and many seminaries.
During the World War II, the Nazis imprisoned a big number of the Faculty professors in concentration camps. Despite heavy repressions and casualties among the personnel which were inflicted by the occupiers, the Faculty provided underground education. In 1945, the academic staff of the Faculty expanded, increased by the number of professors from the Polish eastern region, mainly Lviv.
Unfortunately, by the resolution of the Polish Communist government in 1954, the Faculty of Theology was removed from the Jagiellonian University. However, this decision did not interrupt its actual and canonical existence.
In 1959, the Holy See issued a decree which affirmed: "in accordance with its institution and character, the Faculty of Theology remains managed by one, ecclesiastical authority, and in the future it should be shaped according to the laws passed by the Holy See". Owing to Cardinal Karol Wojtyla's efforts, the Faculty was granted the honourable title: "Pontifical" in 1974.
The Beata Hedvigis Motu Proprio, issued by Holy Father John Paul II on December 8th, 1981, was a turning point in the history of the Theology Faculty in Cracow. It brought into being the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow with three Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy and Church History.
The Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow has taken over the traditions of the the Jagiellonian University's Theology Faculty, which rendered great service to the culture, the country and the Church in Poland. Remaining in the care of its patron saints: St John of Kęty, St Queen Jadwiga and St Joseph Sebastian Pelczar, the Academy continues the heritage of centuries.
Since 2005, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz has been the Great Chancellor of the Academy.
The Academy Today
The Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow conducts its scholarly and didactic activity at four Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy, Church History, and one located in another city Theology Faculty in Tarnów and also at Interfaculty Institutes: of Bioethics, and of Ecumenism and Dialogue. The Centre for Studying the Thought of John Paul II also ranks as an interfaculty school.
The three fields of study Theology, Philosophy and History hold the Certificate in Education Quality issued by the Conference of the Rectors of the Polish Universities in recognition of their high education quality.
The Academy is member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC) and of the European Federation of Catholic Universities (FUCE), of the Conference of the Rectors of the Polish Universities (KRUP) and of the Conference of the Rectors of Polish Academic Schools (KRASP).
The Academy is involved in cooperation with several universities abroad by organizing exchanges of students and guest lectures by foreign professors. These are: the Ruhr University in Bochum, the Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest, the University of Graz, and the University of Preszow and the Catholic University of Ruzomberok.
Studies
Faculty of Church History
Field of study: History
Speciality: Archival Science, Art, Church History, Eastern Europe Music
Field of study: History of Art
Faculty of Philosophy
Field of study: Philosophy
Faculty of Theology
Field of study: Journalism and Social Communication
Speciality: Education and Media Culture, Journalism
Field of study: Family Studies
Speciality: Counselling and Mediation, Occupational Therapy
Field of study: Theology
Speciality: Catechetics, Catechetics and Pastoral Care, Priesthood
Our beginnings in 1981 were rather small we started with 40 lecturers and over 350 students. At present, we have over four times as many academics (including 70 associate and full professors), whereas the number of students reaches 3000. The Faculties: of Theology, of Philosophy and of Church History grew stronger. After a couple of years they were joined by the Faculty of Theology in Tarnów. The Academy started with providing three fields of studies; now they are seven. This educational offer is complemented by various post-Master's programmes.
The development of our Academy fills us with joy. It also makes the plan of transforming the Academy into a Pontifical University more and more feasible. I hope that in the future we shall be able to contribute into the preservation of Europe's identity by strengthening the relations between scholarship and Christianity. I am convinced that Christianity is a natural foundation of European culture.
Rector - Jan Dyduch
History of the Academy in Brief
The Pontifical Academy of Theology derives from the eldest Polish university the Jagiellonian University, which has been associated with the history of our city and our country for more than six hundred years. On May 12th, 1364, King Casimir the Great issued a Foundation Act initiating a university, which had been approved by Pope Urban V beforehand. At that time, the school was called Studium Generale, and it did not include a theology faculty. It was only at the request of St Queen Jadwiga and her husband Wladyslaw Jagiello that Pope Boniface IX issued the Bull, Eximiae devotionis affectus, dated 11th of January, instituting the Faculty of Theology in Cracow. This day initiates a more than six hundred years' activity of the Faculty.
In the Foundation Act of July 26th, 1400, the Faculty of Theology was mentioned in the first place, and since then it was of primary importance at the Cracow University for many centuries. In accordance with the idea of St Queen Jadwiga, the professors of the Faculty got involved in Christianization of Lithuania. Owing to their speeches at the Councils of Constance and Basle, the Faculty became famous not only in Poland, but also beyond.
At the times of the First Polish Republic, the rectors of the Cracow University were mostly elected from among its theologians. After Poland survived the partition period and regained independence in 1918, the Cracow Faculty of Theology which boasted outstanding professors and the biggest number of students in Poland was one of the main centres of Polish theological thought. Its graduates were among academic staff of almost all Polish theology faculties and many seminaries.
During the World War II, the Nazis imprisoned a big number of the Faculty professors in concentration camps. Despite heavy repressions and casualties among the personnel which were inflicted by the occupiers, the Faculty provided underground education. In 1945, the academic staff of the Faculty expanded, increased by the number of professors from the Polish eastern region, mainly Lviv.
Unfortunately, by the resolution of the Polish Communist government in 1954, the Faculty of Theology was removed from the Jagiellonian University. However, this decision did not interrupt its actual and canonical existence.
In 1959, the Holy See issued a decree which affirmed: "in accordance with its institution and character, the Faculty of Theology remains managed by one, ecclesiastical authority, and in the future it should be shaped according to the laws passed by the Holy See". Owing to Cardinal Karol Wojtyla's efforts, the Faculty was granted the honourable title: "Pontifical" in 1974.
The Beata Hedvigis Motu Proprio, issued by Holy Father John Paul II on December 8th, 1981, was a turning point in the history of the Theology Faculty in Cracow. It brought into being the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow with three Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy and Church History.
The Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow has taken over the traditions of the the Jagiellonian University's Theology Faculty, which rendered great service to the culture, the country and the Church in Poland. Remaining in the care of its patron saints: St John of Kęty, St Queen Jadwiga and St Joseph Sebastian Pelczar, the Academy continues the heritage of centuries.
Since 2005, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz has been the Great Chancellor of the Academy.
The Academy Today
The Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow conducts its scholarly and didactic activity at four Faculties: of Theology, Philosophy, Church History, and one located in another city Theology Faculty in Tarnów and also at Interfaculty Institutes: of Bioethics, and of Ecumenism and Dialogue. The Centre for Studying the Thought of John Paul II also ranks as an interfaculty school.
The three fields of study Theology, Philosophy and History hold the Certificate in Education Quality issued by the Conference of the Rectors of the Polish Universities in recognition of their high education quality.
The Academy is member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC) and of the European Federation of Catholic Universities (FUCE), of the Conference of the Rectors of the Polish Universities (KRUP) and of the Conference of the Rectors of Polish Academic Schools (KRASP).
The Academy is involved in cooperation with several universities abroad by organizing exchanges of students and guest lectures by foreign professors. These are: the Ruhr University in Bochum, the Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest, the University of Graz, and the University of Preszow and the Catholic University of Ruzomberok.
Studies
Faculty of Church History
Field of study: History
Speciality: Archival Science, Art, Church History, Eastern Europe Music
Field of study: History of Art
Faculty of Philosophy
Field of study: Philosophy
Faculty of Theology
Field of study: Journalism and Social Communication
Speciality: Education and Media Culture, Journalism
Field of study: Family Studies
Speciality: Counselling and Mediation, Occupational Therapy
Field of study: Theology
Speciality: Catechetics, Catechetics and Pastoral Care, Priesthood
Information published at 26 May 2008
